When client satisfaction is at the core of business success – productivity and timely delivery of projects take centre stage.eClerx Services Limited, a leading knowledge process outsourcing company, turned to Polycom to build a unified communications environment and enable its staff across continents to meet face-to-face with greater ease. Through rapid adoption of video collaboration, the company has secured B2B and B2C connections to provide a robust level of customer services. eClerx Services’ focus on continuous innovation and establishing a strong teamwork culture makes them a Polycom Superhero!

With the company’s rapid growth and inherent client-centric culture, the primary collaboration requirement for eClerx was threefold: to increase video usage and adoption among its employees for greater productivity, seamless multi-party conferencing, and integration with Skype for Business.

“Weekly review meetings with stakeholders required a number of participants dialling in from various offices and remote locations. It was important for us to increase the capacity, so that more people could join these calls, and ensure that the user experience was of the highest standard,” said Sanjay Kukreja, CIO of the company. He added, “We also required PSTN connectivity for our audio participants and seamless integration with our existing Skype for Business platform.”

Kukreja emphasised the company’s commitment to innovation and collaboration is key to the growth and continuous improvement of service delivery. “By establishing those critical face-to-face connections across time zones, not only do we serve our customers better, but create a strong culture of teamwork across the organisation,” he said.

Our customers are achieving amazing results by using Polycom solutions to defy distance across all industries. Whether you’re saving lives or saving your company time and money, we want to hear about it!

We have lots of opportunities for you to share your success, including:

Want to integrate video with Skype for Business? Polycom experts will explain it all in our next webinarto be held on Wednesday, November 2. Whether you are looking to extend your current Skype for Business or Microsoft Office 365 deployment to include video, or you want to leverage your existing video investment within your chosen Microsoft environment, this is the webinar for you.

Do you know why you shouldn’t wear checked shirts on camera? Or figured out why bad lighting can make such a difference to the effectiveness of a video call? If not, now’s the right time to brush up on your etiquette for video – or “vidiquette” as we like to call it. At Polycom, we use video every day, in every location, for virtually every meeting – and over the years, we’ve learned a thing or two. With video collaboration expected to be the world’s most preferred business communications tool, it’s only fair that we pass this knowledge on.

Video collaboration is breaking down distance barriers in the workplace – people want to talk with each other naturally from anywhere, they want to connect from any location, they want to be able to share content and whiteboard ideas as if they were meeting in person. Having the ability to use video-enabled devices has made this a reality, while the growing popularity of video conferencing at home, especially by millennials entering the workforce, is a big driver of increased preference for its adoption in the workplace. With a growing number of users, it only becomes more necessary to provide guidance and best practices in video collaboration towards improving team meetings.

That’s where Polly Calm comes in – she’s the world’s expert in “vidiquette” and her mission is to encourage video conferencing utilisation and adoption by demonstrating that it only takes a few simple steps to make it a great experience!

Watch as she takes you through best practices in video conferencing to help make it a pleasant and productive experience for everyone. View all the videos here.

Since its introduction in June 2014, Polycom has made major advancements toward the Polycom RealConnectsolution, the first technology to connect Skype for Business video with existing video systems. Since then, Polycom RealConnect has become the de facto model for connecting Skype for Business/Lync clients and standards-based endpoints.

In a brand new webinarnext week, our in-house experts will reveal how to extend the Skype for Business experience by making it simple and intuitive for any user to join with one-click.

Why attend this webinar?

Whether you are looking to connect Skype for Business video with existing video systems or that you want to improve current workflow efficiencies by connecting video across mixed-vendor environments, seamless integration and ease of use are essential in ensuring success.

By registeringfor our ‘Click-to-Join with Polycom®RealConnect™ and Skype for Business’ webinar you’ll hear firsthand from Adam Jacobs, our Principal Microsoft Architect, on how to extend the Skype for Business experience by making it simple and intuitive for any user to join with one-click.

Gartner, the largest and most influential analyst firm in the world, has published its annual vendor comparison report of enterprise group video vendors. For the second consecutive year, Polycom is ranked a 'Leader' in group video systems along with Cisco and Vidyo. Gartner states that Polycom is “Microsoft’s strongest videoconferencing partner” and highlights the expansion of Polycom’s portfolio with recent innovations including RealPresence Trio, RealPresence Debut, RealPresence Centro and RealPresence Clariti. Polycom was also recognised for its continued leadership in standards-based interoperability.

Gabrielle Cichero was appointed Senior Director, Marketing for Polycom Asia Pacific and Japan in May 2016. Based in Sydney, she will oversee the overall marketing programs for the region as well as help grow the Polycom business.

An active volunteer, she spends her free time at the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, working in the Comms Room, supporting and helping people in emergency situations.

In this Q&A, she discusses her plans for her regional team, successful marketing strategies and how she balances work and family responsibilities.

What are your top priorities in your new role?

My top priority is to grow the Polycom business. Polycom has an incredible opportunity in Asia Pacific. There is no geography more connected in the world and no other region has seized the advantages of that connectivity in the same way, with yet more scope to grow. Polycom’s ability to drive productivity through technology creates equality of opportunity for people and businesses, so continuing to demonstrate that and grow our business is my priority.

I am excited to join the team and look forward to evolving a Polycom story through marketing that is as innovative as our technology.

What are your main expectations from your team?

I expect them to desire to be the best marketers in the world! I want my team to embrace our customers and build stories about the amazing possibilities that our technology brings. We are a technology company but our solutions make a difference in people’s lives.

Marketing to me is a blend of art and science. By that I mean being creative about crafting a story while putting best practice marketing principles to work to tell that story to the right people - connecting with our customers, and creating partnerships that build value across the ecosystem.

Could you tell us what interested you in Polycom?

Initially, I was interested in the promise of Polycom - the power of true collaboration. Just think of all the people in the world who spend hours in unproductive meetings and very long phone calls, where they are not truly connecting.

In every communication experience that you have, so much is visual in our expressions and body language. Every time you lose that, you lose the possibility of connection. What I love about Polycom is that the company makes the possibility a reality, bringing true connections quickly into business.

Collaboration brings opportunity – be it to school children in rural villages who can receive an education via HD video conferencing, or medical students in remote communities to receive ongoing training.

It doesn’t matter what the geopolitical or social environments are, collaboration provides that opportunity and that’s the promise of Polycom to me.

Polycom also has an enviable culture. We speak externally of unleashing the power of human collaboration, innovation and defying distance, but everyone in Polycom lives and breathes this every day. I’ve learnt we demonstrate the possibility and advantages of how technology can make people work together in a better way when they truly embrace it – through every connection, every day.

What do you think B2B technology marketers need to know about the evolving marketing landscape? How has this changed in the last 3-5 years?

First, while B2B marketing is about ‘business to business’, all marketing is about “people to people”. Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of that. As an industry, we have become very good at mastering the science of marketing, but at the end of the day, every conversation has to end with influencing or connecting to a person.

Whilst business relationships can be long lasting and valuable, they lack the ease of “stickiness” or emotional attachment a consumer can feel. So you have to find a way to drive that motivation and continue to deliver value.

Secondly, the metrics around Marketing are much more advanced and scientific than they were even five years ago. When I first started in my career, it wasn’t easy to define the contribution of marketing to the sales cycle and the business.

Technology marketing has now evolved its own science & discipline, helping us measure that contribution and also providing an ability to test, execute and adjust quickly. Using analytics helps to craft better stories and make adjustments quickly. That customer intimacy and insight based on technology platforms has been one of the biggest trends.

How do you think technology is shaping the future of marketing?

In a perfect world, technology should be able to make connections deeper. You can apply a lot of technology but it’s not until you analyse the intelligence from it and can apply that in a meaningful way that it really delivers value.

Technology has the ability to answer questions like - How do you understand different motivations and different cultures when you’re selling the same thing? What’s the right message to the right people and how can we connect with them in the best way? How do we deliver a richer experience with the right information, the right time, and the right way? How are we improving contributions to the business every day?

Technology will continue to allow us to know more about what we do. However, the decisions we take from that, require the expertise and imagination of people.

How can vendors like Polycom support partners in lead generation and marketing efforts?

Partners are essential to help us serve our customers better and make them more successful. They often bring a deep understanding of their customers’ business and their needs. Often, partners also bring local expertise and cultural knowledge. Given the diversity and breadth of Asia Pacific, we could not anticipate and deliver on our customers’ needs without them.

A partnership needs to be a collaborative effort. The Polycom brand, and our investment in it acts as a pull factor that delivers leads and interest to our partners. On the push side of the marketing equation, we also support them through easy to adopt campaigns designed for partners to localize and deploy.

It’s how we work together to deliver real business value to our customers that is the most important element and Polycom is committed to that.

How important is customer experience to a brand?

Customers telling your story is the most authentic and powerful way to build a brand.In technology, the desire to do that comes from a great user experience, so every experience is critical. It’s why Polycom is constantly looking for ways to make our solutions simpler to use – so they can focus on connecting, and associate that connection with the Polycom brand.

How do you manage a family and an executive career?

Life is about priorities. I’m focused on work when I’m there and my family when I’m with them. I am very lucky to have an amazing husband. We have been married for more than 20 years and have a 12 year old son. We always want each other to develop and grow and reach our full potential, just as I do with my Polycom team.

The key is balance and kindness. Sometimes the house may be untidy but the dinner table will always be a place for conversation!

If you think this pictured collaboration solution may look familiar - then you're absolutely right.Polycom® RealPresence Trio™, transforms Polycom's iconic three-point conference phone, one of the most popular appliances in the history of business meetings!

Today, we are delighted to share the news that this first smart hub for group collaboration was awarded with the Red Dot, the international distinction for high design quality. Find out how RealPresence Trio is not only about style - but is rapidly transforming huddle rooms into collaboration hubs.

Participants from 57 nations had registered their products and innovations for the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2016. Only products which set themselves apart considerably through their excellent design receive the sought-after quality seal from the international Red Dot jury.

The perfect huddle room solutionHuddle rooms are the fastest growing type of meeting space and many organisations are struggling with the best way to affordably outfit these smaller rooms with collaboration technology.

Modular and flexible solutions allow teams to transform their workspaces and adapt to the way they need to collaborate. This is where solutions such as RealPresence Trio transform the way small meeting spaces are being used.

Check out this handy infographic to discover how Polycom's range of solutions make huddle rooms more productive.

Experience it for yourself!

If you'd like to experience Polycom RealPresence Trio or explore more collaboration options for your small meeting spaces, contact your Polycom representative.

The Workplace of the Future is not a place; it’s a state of mind. It’s how you integrate collaborative technology into the DNA of your businesses to boost innovation, hone your competitive edge and drive topline and bottom line performance today and into the future. Why does collaboration matter and how does it bring real benefits and efficiencies to business?

In a unique event to be held in Singapore on January 29, Bangalore on February 4and Sydney on February 9, industry experts will provide key insights on delivering a collaborative workplace, and share best practice and lessons learned to help you shape the workplace of the future.

What you can look forward to

Attendees will experience the latest innovations that support collaboration and meet Polycom’s EVP, Worldwide Engineering, Michael Frendo who will talk about creating a collaborative workplace and be joined by key figures from the industry:

In Bangalore: Hear from Anjali Kelkar, APAC consultant, Applied Research & Consulting for Steelcase on how to make distances disappear in a workplace. Rupesh Gandhi, Communications Global Black Belt & O365 Landing Lead (India & SAARC) will also present at the session.

In Sydney: Steven Miller, Director, Microsoft Office Division Business Group, Microsoft will present on creating a new world of work with Office 365 and Skype for Business. Mark Hansen, Chief Information Officer with DEXUS Property Group will reveal the key trends driving the workspace of the future.

Who should attend? IT decision makers, IT teams involved in implementing UC and collaboration solutions, solution architects and professionals involved in workplace re-design.

Limited places available – register now!Join us for this freeevent and learn how you can fuel the development of true collaboration in your organisation today. Only limited places available, make sure to reserve your spot today. Click on the links to register in your respective city:

Last week, Polycom unveiled several new collaboration solutionsthat will transform the workplace as we know it today. In a live event in New York and delivered via webcast around the world, the company announced breakthrough collaboration experiences that place people at the centre of collaboration. If you missed this live event, now's your chance to catch up!

Presiding at the event, Peter Leav, Polycom's President and Chief Executive Officer described the launch as a quantum leap in achieving the company's vision of unleasing the power of human collaboration: “As we celebrate our 25thyear of innovation and leadership, we are announcing breakthrough collaboration experiences that uniquely place people at the heart of collaboration enabling them to work better, smarter and more efficiently. We are delivering the workplace of the future today.”

The event featured:

Polycom's President and CEO, Peter Leav, discussing how Polycom’s vision and strategy is driving customer success

Insights from Scott Crowder, CIO of BMC about how they are building a workplace of the future and a collaboration culture that gives them a competitive advantage

The unveiling of Polycom’s exciting new solutions by Ashan Willy, SVP of Worldwide Product Management and System Engineers, and Michael Frendo, EVP of Engineering

Polycom® RealPresence Centro™, the industry’s first collaboration solution purpose-built to put people at the centre of collaboration.RealPresence Centro was built with instinctual human behaviour in mind – people feel more comfortable communicating and collaborating in the round. Polycom’s patented 360-degree voice and video technology automatically tracks the speaker, while also showing the entire meeting space on the same screen.Blog: Polycom RealPresence Centro to take centre stage for industries

Polycom® RealPresence® Medialign™,a turnkey Polycom® RealPresence® Group Series solution for multiple work environments- Polycom RealPresence Medialign enables consistent collaboration solutions across the enterprise without the need to alter the room in any way. RealPresence Medialign has a modern, all-in-one design and is the only solution that features Polycom’s industry leading and patented voice, content-sharing/management and video technology.

At our recent ‘Are you ready for Skype for Business’ webinar, our experts fielded several questions from the attendees which covered integration within existing UC environments, impact on current telephony, video and content sharing solutions, and how you can protect your current collaboration infrastructure investments. In this blog post, we feature some of the most frequently asked questions at the webinar. Read on to find out the answers…

Q: We are a small/medium NGO. I would like to know more about Office 365 and voice as a complete multisite PABX replacement. Timeframe for start of pilot / rollout is 6-18 months.

Microsoft is planning to rollout PSTN Voice for Office 365 multi-tenant in the US this year with other countries to follow in 2016 and beyond. The exact dates for availability in ANZ are still not confirmed. Polycom VVX phones will support Office365 multi-tenant in Q3 of this year. Skype4B Server supports hybrid topology where users hosted online can leverage on-premise PSTN infrastructure for Enterprise Voice

Polycom Room Systems eg RealPresence Group Series can enable direct calling via IP address without SIP registrar. However, in most environments the room system will register with a SIP server such as Lync/Skype4B server or Polycom DMA7000. Polycom RealPresence Desktop software can be used without Polycom Infrastructure as long as the software is licensed for local individual use.

Q: Are you aware of a roadmap for the CX Series IP Phones to update the OS from the Microsoft Lync Phone Edition to Skype for Business Phone Edition?

At this stage there are no plans for Microsoft to update the OS on the LPE devices but they are supported with Skype4B server.

Q: If a regular Skype client is installed on a PC can you log in with your Skype for Business credentials?

The Skype consumer client cannot be used to login to Skype4B server and vice versa. They remain separate and independent client and server software

Q: Can you talk about Polycom's PTZ Front-of-Room camera option which automatically zooms in on the active speaker, which can be used (with HDMI adapter) with the CX8000 Lync Room System? Will this be a packaged option to order with the CX8000?

This is possible using a video bridge such as Vaddio but we do not provide it as a packaged option when ordering the CX8000. The Vaddio bridge can be purchased separately from the appropriate resellers

Q: Will Enterprise Voice be available for Skype for Business soon?Enterprise Voice for on-premise Skype4B is part of the product. Enterprise Voice for Skype4B hybrid is possible where users hosted online leverage on-premise PSTN infrastructure for EV. Skype4B O365 multi-tenant is not yet available at this stage. Contact your Microsoft representative for further details.

Q: What does Cisco side equipment need in order to connect to our Skype for Business?Skype4B provides a new Video Interop Server (VIS) role that can allow P2P and conference calls between certain Cisco EPs and Skype4B clients. CUCM v10.5 or higher is required and Cisco EPs with TC7.0 or higher are required.

Q: I have a client with 51 Endpoints + RMX1800- 40-720p, looking to integrate Skype for Business channels. How will this be possible?This is achievable using Polycom RealConnect technology, which allows multiple bi-directional video and content streams to be send/receive between Skype4B clients and standard room Endpoints. Contact your Polycom representative for more details.

Q: If I currently have Polycom DMA, CMA and RMX 1500, as well as RealPresence Access Director, which only serves for H.323 call, what additional requirements are needed to setup in order to link with Skype video calls?

Q: I do not see the Round Table 100 listed in the Lync/Skype4B solutions catalogue. When will this be updated?Round Table 100 will be available in APAC in Q4 2015. The catalogue will be updated once the product is officially available for purchase.

Q: Video calls from Polycom VVX 500/600 are not possible with Lync/Skype4B client. What is the plan to make this happen?Video calls between VVX500/600 and Lync/Skype4B clients is planned a future release of VVX firmware targeted for Q4 2015

Q: It seems that most vendors on the market are moving towards USB device for the meeting room devices. Will Polycom also move in this direction away from IP device?We cannot disclose anything specific at this stage but Polycom R&D has been looking into these types of devices for some time already and we will make the announcements (if any) in due course.

Q: Why does the CX5500 have the extra CPU unit? It is bulky.The CPU unit is responsible for the video processing and encoding. It is a necessary component of the CX5100/5500

Q: a) Can we bring in a participant that would like to join the Skype meeting via other VC equipment?b) What’s needed for the HDX7000 to have a face-to-face meeting and presentation in the same session?c) Does Skype4B support Polycom old equipment HDX 7000/8000 models ?This is achievable using Polycom RealConnect technology, which allows multiple bi-directional video and content streams to be send/receive between Skype4B clients and standard room Endpoints. Contact your Polycom representative for more details.

Q: Can we use the Lync Room System with the Touch Screen system if we are not in a call?Yes the Lync Room System can be used as a whiteboard even if not in a call.

Q: Is there much difference between Lync 2013 and Skype for Business to Polycom infrastructure (DMA, RMX)?There are minimal differences between Lync 2013 and Skype4B in terms of integration with Polycom infrastructure. Newer versions of RealPresence Platform will be released soon that will officially support Skype4B Server.

Q: Does Polycom Group 500 support Skype4B? Do we need to upgrade the firmware in Group 500 before using with Skype4B?Yes, Group 500 will support Skype4B server and clients in the upcoming firmware release targeted for Q3.

Q: Does the CX5500 series phone hardware work with normal Asterisk Telephony solution and is it compatible with Cisco telepresence devices?Yes the CX5500 series phone module will work with any industry standard Open-SIP platform including Asterisk.

Q: How many Polycom devices can connect at one time?This depends on the capacity of the Polycom RPP infrastructure that is installed. However Skype4B Server only supports five active speaker streams in a conference, even if there are more participants in the call.